POS1341 GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE REVISED FIBROMYALGIA IMPACT QUESTIONNAIRE (FIQR) A PILOT STUDY
Authors: M. Favretti, G. Dolcini, C. Iannuccelli, D. Franculli, C. Gioia, F. Conti, M. Di Franco
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic syndrome clinically characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain associated with symptoms like fatigue, sleep disturbances and cognitive impairment. Prevalence is higher in females but the 2010/2011 and 2016 revisions of the American College of Rheumatologist (ACR) criteria reduced prevalence differences and the actual female:male ratio is approximately 3:1. Even if in the last years some studies have been conducted regarding gender differences in FM, disease severity is still assessed using questionnaires, such as the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), designed for female patients and validated through a predominantly female sample. <h3>Objectives</h3> Aim of this pilot study was to compare the 21 items of the FIQ-R among male and female patients in order to evaluate the possible existence of a gender bias. <h3>Methods</h3> In this case control study, all the consecutive patients with a diagnosis of FM (2016 ACR criteria) referring to our out-patients <i>Fibromyalgia Clinic</i> between May 2020 and December 2022 were asked to answer an online survey, including demographic characteristics, disease variables and the Italian version of the FIQR. Among the 544 patients that compiled the questionnaire, 78 patients, 39 males and 39 females matched for age and disease duration, were consecutively enrolled in order to compare their total FIQR score and the different domains scores. <h3>Results</h3> The univariate analysis of the FIQR scores, taking account of the total score and of the different domains of FIQR, showed that total scores and physical function domain scores were significantly higher in females compared to males. No significant differences emerged between the two groups regarding overall impact domain score and symptoms domain score. Among the 21 items of the FIQR, the female group obtained significantly higher scores answering the questions FIQR1 (brush or comb your hair), FIQR4 (vacuum, scrub, or sweep floors), FIQR5 (lift and carry a bag full of groceries), FIQR7 (change bed sheets), FIQR9 (go shopping for groceries) and FIQR21 (sensitivity to loud noises, bright lights, odors, cold). <h3>Conclusion</h3> The results of our pilot study showed that female patients obtain significantly higher scores in the FIQR total score and in the physical function domain score, in particular in 5 out of the 9 sub-items of the FIQR physical function domain. These preliminary results indicate that the use of the FIQR as a severity index in male patients probably underestimates the disease impact in this group. In order to confirm these results the sample needs to be increased but it seems reasonable to conclude that the assessment of disease impact should be diversified, taking gender differences into account. <h3>References</h3> [1]Marques A.P., Santo A.S.D.E, Berssaneti A.A., Matsutani L.A., Yuan S.L.K. Prevalence of fibromyalgia: literature review update. <i>Rev Bras ReumatolEngl Ed.</i><b>2017</b>,<i>57,</i> 356-363. [2]Galvez-Sánchez C.M., Reyes Del Paso G.A. Diagnostic Criteria for Fibromyalgia: Critical Review and Future Perspectives. <i>J Clin Med</i>. <b>2020</b>, <i>9</i>, 1219. [3]Cabo-Meseguer A., Cerdá-Olmedo G., Trillo-Mata J.L. Fibromyalgia: Prevalence, epidemiologic profiles and economic costs. <i>Med Clin (Barc).</i><b>2017</b>,<i>149,</i> 441-448. [3]Branco J.C., Bannwarth B., Failde I., AbelloCarbonell J., Blotman F., Spaeth M., Saraiva F., Nacci F., Thomas E., Caubère J.P., Le Lay K., Taieb C., Matucci-Cerinic M. Prevalence of fibromyalgia: a survey in five European countries. <i>Semin Arthritis Rheum</i>. <b>2010</b>, <i>39</i>, 448-53. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.